How are cigarette and smoking laws changing in 2017? Your guide to 10-packs, menthols, vaping and more

Branded packs will soon be illegal after Big Tobacco lost a court fight. So what else is changing? We explain the rules and dates for things like 10-packs, e-cigarettes and the smoking law in your car.

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But there was a grace period for sellers and suppliers to get rid of old stock.

Even if they have some left, it will be illegal for shops to sell old-style branded cigarette packs from May 21, 2017.

No more packs of 10

Not only are branded packs like these in the past - all must now be packs of 20 too (Image: PA)

The same rules say all packs must have a "minimum of 20 cigarettes".

The thinking behind this is it'll be more expensive to get hold of a pack in future, with the cheapest costing nearly £9.

That hit to the wallet might put off youngsters who want to give smoking a try.

This also takes full force on May 21, 2017 .

And boy, did Big Tobacco try to stop it

The Supreme Court has finally brought an end to Big Tobacco's fight (Image: PA)

Giants including Imperial and British American Tobacco fought a mammoth court case to try and stop plain packaging.

They complained the government would have a "disproportionate control" over their lucrative trade marks without "compensating" them.

The Court of Appeal dismissed all 17 of their points in November after a week-long case involving 30 expert witnesses.

But the giants appealed to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.

Last night it was confirmed the Supreme Court has refused to hear that appeal, clearing the last hurdle to the rules.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was "delighted".

No more menthols

Menthol cigarettes have a pleasant taste for some - but they are just as dangerous (Image: Getty)

All flavoured cigarettes including menthols will be banned from sale in the UK from 20 May 2020.

That includes both pre-produced cigarettes and rolling tobacco.

Shops will also be banned from selling tobacco with any flavoured papers, filters, packages or capsules that let you give the smoke a flavour.

Experts say this is needed because menthols' lighter taste obscures how dangerous they are.

Amanda Sandford of the charity ASH - Action on Smoking and Heath - told the Liverpool Echo: "It is an absolute myth that menthol cigarettes are better for you. All cigarettes are harmful and menthol cigarettes are just as dangerous as normal cigarettes.”

No more small pouches of rolling tobacco

A haul of illegal rolling tobacco that was seized by customs officers (Image: HMRC)

Rolling tobacco can no longer be sold in any pouch smaller than 30 grams.

Just like the minimum pack size of 20 cigarettes, this is to discourage teenagers from buying small amounts then getting addicted.

This law came into force last year but had a grace period, so packs smaller than 30g are banned from sale from 21 May 2017.

And offenders can be jailed for 2 years

Anyone breaching any of the laws above can be jailed for up to two years in the most serious cases.

New restrictions on vaping

Vaping is relatively new on the scene - and it's being brought under several new laws (Image: PA)

Vaping is not being banned.

But a maze of new rules on e-cigarettes was brought in last year. They include: